Patidana

Both Amy and I were at BMBMC today for the Patidana occasion..

Good teacher good student

"When we want to be good teacher, we must also become a good student" said Sayadaw U Vimalacara

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In the Puppha Sutta, the Buddha exclaimed that the Buddha does not argue or quarrel with world but it is the world of beings that is disputing with Him.
The Buddha will agree with the wise one (those that meditate well, the Noble Ones) because the wise one knows the truth. Thus, proclaiming what is the truth does not merit any argument or disputes.

"BMBMC members," said Sayadaw U Vimala, "should be practicing what is the true teaching of the Buddha"
In this Sutta, the Buddha said that all compound things are subjected to anicca, dukkha and anatta. The Panca Khanda namely Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, Sankhara and Vinnana are subjected to change, suffering and uncontrollable. In the practice of Vipassana Meditation, yogis should  be aware of these Aggregates and they have these 3 characteristics. Then only can the yogis attain magga phala nana.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Of She-monkey and Angels

“Which is more beautiful, the angels or your ex-bride?” asked Lord Buddha to Nanda Thera when Buddha decided to take Nanda Thera to Tavathimsa Heaven.
“The angels, my Lord, my ex-bride is like the she-monkey” replied Nanda Thera
In tonight Dhamma talk, Sayadaw U Vimalacarabhivamsa uses the Story of Nanda Thera to advise members of BMBMC not to attach to your wife, family and others when coming for meditation in the centre. This attachement will hinder your meditation progress.
As the story goes, Nanda Thera then strives to get to heaven the meet the angels. Known by the other monks, Nanda Thera was then ridiculed and blamed. Cast as an outcast, Nanda Thera decided to strive with diligent in his practice and eventually Nanda Thera attained Arahanta.
Here, Sayadaw said that different strategies are always used by meditation teachers to teach the yogis. Depending on their paramis, yogis will gain progress with their practices. However, Sayadaw pointed out that Saddha in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is very important for one to attained Enlightenment.
Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

In Search of the Buddha Image

Today Amy and I follow Uncle Lim, Ah Kiang and Chin to a shop selling Buddhist paraphernalia to look at Buddha images. BMBMC is searching of a new Buddha image to replace the present one.

Any one has any suggestion where to get a ‘beautiful’ Buddha image?

Channa Sutta

“I helped the Buddha to become the Buddha, therefore this Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha is my Buddha, my Dhamma and my Sangha” thought Venerable Channa. This conceited thought had caused this Venerable to have no respect for the other monks during the Buddha’s time.

In tonight Dhamma talk at BMBMC, Sayadaw U Vimalacarabhivamsa explained the situation faced by Venerable Chanda as mentioned in the Channa Sutta [see link for further more detail]
After the demise of the Buddha, Venerable Channa who was isolated from the other monks began to feel bored. Venerable Channa decided to proceed to a gathering of elder monks and requested them to give him a Dhamma talk.

Fearing that Venerable Channa will blame them and every other things of suffering, the elders decided to teach him that Rupa, Vedana, Sanna, Sankhara and Vinnana are impermanent and non-self only.

Venerable Channa is a good meditator but he has wrong views in related to self as he believes in there exist a self or ego and also there is no existence after this life.

Not satisfied and with doubt, Venerable Channa decided to seek Venerable Ananda for advice. Venerable Ananda who is endured with wisdom and foresight, expounded the Paticca Samupada to Venerable Channa. Paticca Samupada which tenets is based on Cause and Effect and the cessation of the cause resulted in the cessation of effect is able to eradicate the wrong views as being held by Venerable Channa.

Realising the meaning of the Dhamma explained by Venerable Ananda, Venerable Channa is able to attain to the First stage of Sainthood.

Sayadaw U Vimala hoped that tonight Dhamma talk will encourages members of BMBMC to try to achieve the first stage of Sainthood and not to have wrong views such as Sakayaditthi and  Uccheda ditthi.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

Vassa Begins Today

Sayadaw U Vimalacarabhimvasa giving a short Dhamma talk

Tonight both Amy and I attended the invitation to enter the Vassa ceremony at BMBMC. This year, Sayadaw U Vimalacarabhivamsa had accepted BMBMC invitation to enter Sayadaw’s 34th Vassa at the centre.  

Paying respect to the Triple Gem

In the shoirt Dhamma talk, Sayadaw advises us to constantly practise what was taught to us by the Buddha, namely to practise Dana, Sila and Bhavana. If we do not practise these three things, said Sayadaw, then we will not perform them.

Consequently, it will then lead us further down into suffering. However, if we had keep up with the practises, then eventually we will succeed in our quest to achieve our goal in eradication of the kilesa and realised Nibbana.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!

The arrival of Sayadaw U Vimala

Amy and I were at BMBMC to receive Sayadaw U Vimala who had accepted the invitation to reside at BMBMC for this year Vassa. It was raining heavily and Sayadaw arrived at BMBMC at about 8 pm.

I am glad to see Sayadaw in good health.

Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!